Colin Norris was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in jail last week for murdering four elderly patients at Leeds hospitals by injecting them with insulin.

He was also given a 22-year sentence for the attempted murder of a fifth patient.

Following the hearing Stuart Hall, whose mother Ethel from Calverley was one of Norris's victims, called for a public inquiry into the case.

Now bosses at NHS Yorkshire and the Humber, the region's Strategic Health Authority, are commissioning an independent team to look into the case.

An NHS Yorkshire and Humber spokesman said: "An independent investigation will examine the issues raised by this case.

"The nature of that investigation will have to be determined but will be informed by discussions with the Department of Health and building on the work already undertaken by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust."

He said they were in the process of establishing the investigation team and were looking to start work as soon as possible.

It is unclear how long the review will take but its findings will be published.

Norris, 32, formerly of Kirkstall, Leeds, was convicted of killing Ethel Hall, Bridget Bourke, Doris Ludlam and Irene Crookes and attempted murder of Vera Wilby after a four month trial.

Meanwhile NHS Employers, which represents health trusts on workforce issues, is set to tighten up its guidance on pre-employment checks.
Updated guidelines, due to be revealed soon, were drawn up before the Norris case concluded.

An NHS Employers spokeswoman said: "Our previous guidance on safer recruitment will be replaced with updated standards covering the six mandatory checks: verification of identity, right to work, registration and qualification, employment history and references, Criminal Records Bureau."